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Finally! Willy T has a home after being chased out by Gov't

A meeting held on May 14, 2018 with Ewan C. Anderson, owner of Willy T, Junior Tourism Minister, Hon Archibald C. Christian (AL) along with Premier Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), saw the was agreed that Government will have no objections to Willy T moving to the area of Great Habour, Peter Island close to the Ocean 7 establishment. Photo: VINO/File

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- It was the pressure of the public, civil society and the media that forced the National Democratic Party (NDP) regime to hold a meeting yesterday May 14, 2018 with the owners of the famous William Thornton aka ‘Willy T’, a floating restaurant and bar, owned by Mrs Heather L. Anderson, a belonger of the Virgin Islands. Her husband Ewan C. Anderson is the manager of the business.

The meeting was led by Junior Tourism Minister, Hon Archibald C. Christian (AL) who, with Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), chased the business from operating in the area of Norman Island, after some 34 years of being there.

Harassment of local business by NDP

Premier Smith went further last Friday, May 11, 2018, in ordering a letter be written to the owners to “cease & desist from operating at Norman Island,” according to an NDP source close to the matter.

After public outcry about the treatment by the Smith Administration of local businesses, a meeting with Mr Anderson was held yesterday May 14, 2018, that included officials from Trade, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, Environmental Health and the Premier’s Office.

It was agreed that Government will have no objections to Willy T moving to the area of Great Harbour, Peter Island, close to the Ocean 7 establishment. The Ocean 7 property is owned by the Romney family who was in talks with Willy T before the Government’s intervention.

The terms and conditions of the relocation are not immediately known, or if Willy T is negotiating with Government or the Romney family on the new location.

Background

In an exclusive interview with our newsroom, Mr Anderson told the public that he was called into a meeting on May 10, 2018 with Premier Smith and Junior Minister Christian where he was told that he has to find a new location for the Willy T because they have a “large development on Norman Island that does not want the Willy T in the bay."

Dr Smith's tenuous relationship with the truth

After the news was published, Premier Smith fired back with the usual misinformation, claiming that Willy T's seabed lease had expired and there were environmental concerns.

Both turned out to be lies, as Mr Anderson had just renewed his seabed mooring lease with the National Parks Trust from April 4, 2018, for a year, which he produced.

In addition, all environmental issues were addressed some 2 years ago and were confirmed by the Conservation and Fisheries Department. The new boat has a modern sewerage system and holding tank and Willy T owners had already contracted a vendor for the weekly clean out.

17 Responses to “Finally! Willy T has a home after being chased out by Gov't”

Hear ye, hear, ye! Who in the NDP circles also plan to own villas in the Norman Island Development Project.? You’ll had better disclose now! The days of just ignoring conflicts of interest and corruption is soon coming to a close.

The NDP needs to stop. Don't know if they can stop. But they need to stOP ENTERTAINING these people with their separatist and settler mentalities doing business here in the BVI. Bitchozet17@yahoo.com now.

The Premier of the country lying about something as simple as that? Something that is easily verified? It’s really jokesters we have running this country. So glad the Andersons found an alternative location. Good luck to them

Pirates.....I hope you enjoyed all the Bight's business because the bight is now going to be empty as everybody follows the Willy T to Peter. You can keep your $ 20 drinks and use your facility to entertain the late NDP .

A stateside friend involved in charter yachting asked me just this morning if there was a betting pool going on yet, on when would be the date of the next occasion for the BVI to "shoot itself in the foot", tourism-wise.

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